Reforms are underway to strengthen the role of general practitioners (GPs) in managing people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in NSW.
This will give people with ADHD more choice and support in diagnosis, treatment and day-to-day management of their condition. These changes will reduce wait times and deliver more affordable care.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interferes with a person’s day-to-day activities or development.
- Inattention can look like wandering off task, having difficulty sustaining focus, being disorganised and lacking persistence.
- Hyperactivity refers to restless behaviour such as fidgeting, tapping or talkativeness.
- Impulsivity means doing things too quickly, which can lead to harm. These could include being socially intrusive, e.g. interrupting others excessively, or making important decisions without considering the consequences.
How is ADHD diagnosed?
Currently, ADHD is diagnosed by a paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist.
There aren’t any reliable biological tests to confirm ADHD, e.g. blood tests. Instead, the diagnosis is based on information from the person being assessed and people who know them well like parents, partners or teachers. A health professional also uses assessment tools such as rating scales and questionnaires to help with the diagnosis.
What are the changes?
| Who | What | When |
|---|---|---|
| GP ‘continuation prescribers’ | Can provide psychostimulant prescriptions for patients already diagnosed and stable on medication. Can make minor dose adjustments and switch between drugs of the same type (e.g. immediate to slow release). Patients 6 years and above. | 1 September 2025 |
| GP ‘endorsed prescribers’ | Can provide the first prescription for psychostimulants for newly diagnosed patients. | Early 2026 |
How is ADHD treated?
Multiple forms of treatment are recommended for treating ADHD in children and adults. It’s recommended to use both psychological therapies and medication, as they usually work better together than alone.
Most people with ADHD use medication to treat the symptoms of ADHD. Psychostimulant medicines are the most common type prescribed for ADHD and are used to increase central nervous system activity, which can help with attention and alertness.
How will these reforms reduce wait times?
The reforms support GPs who complete the relevant training to be able to diagnose and manage ADHD in both children and adults. This will be especially suitable for patients with less complex needs.
Enabling GPs to manage children and adults with ADHD will improve the capacity of the health system. This will allow paediatricians and psychiatrists to see new patients and to focus on people who will benefit from a specialist approach.
Currently, most patients must see a paediatrician or psychiatrist every 6 months for repeat medication prescriptions.
Allowing GPs to make these ongoing assessments and prescriptions could reduce the number of referrals to public and private clinics.
Resources
Advocacy and consumer groups
Connect with support groups from ADHD Australia.
Children and adolescents
Resources to support children and teens living with ADHD from Reach Out.
Adults
Community support services from ADHD Foundation
Educators
Supporting students with ADHD from the NSW Department of Education.
Helplines and crisis support
Beyond Blue for mental health support for adults.
Kids Helpline for mental health support for children.